KTYLBH 21

Chapter 21

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In that moment, the frustration and regret I had felt last night surged up to my throat. It felt as though I couldn’t breathe, and my vision blurred.

I took a step back, almost losing my balance. If it hadn’t been for Aeon’s hand gripping my waist, I would have fallen.

“Are you planning to go out?”

His gaze, fixed on me, seemed as if he were digging deep into my soul. Even though I knew he could see right through my thoughts, I still found myself making an excuse.

“I was planning to buy some charcoal for painting. I’ve run out of it while making the improved sleep potion.”

“You’re researching sleep potions?”

“Yes, since I’ve changed my sleeping place, I’ve been having restless dreams ever since I came to the Mage Tower.”

It wasn’t a lie, so it was easy enough to cover up. Both the trouble sleeping and the creation of the sleep potion were entirely true.

Thankfully, Aeon didn’t seem to doubt my words. He even nodded in agreement with a serious expression.

“Ah… I see. I understand that kind of distress well. Actually, I’ve been suffering from chronic insomnia myself.”

“Ah…”

I made a slight awkward face as I glanced at his arm still wrapped around my waist. I hoped he’d realize and withdraw his hand, but that was just my wish. Instead, he tightened his hold even more.

“If you finish your sleep potion, will you share some with me?”

His shameless grin seemed to say that whatever happened below didn’t concern him.

‘He’s trying to keep me from leaving.’

He led me away, as if we were waltzing, though I wasn’t sure where he was taking me. What was clear was that we were moving further away from the exit.

“Night walks are becoming a bit tiresome. I’d rather take the potion and get a good rest.”

“Night walks?”

“Yes, night walks.”

He emphasized each word, his voice almost melodic.

“During night walks, you might have unexpected encounters. It’s quite fascinating.”

“Unexpected encounters?”

His words involuntarily brought to mind the ominous dream from last night. I had been on edge already, and now the mention of unexpected encounters made me tense.

“Ah, don’t worry. I didn’t meet any ghosts. I merely meant that at night, you can meet creatures that aren’t visible during the day.”

Aeon took my hand and began to spin me in the hall. His steps were light, but his grip was firm, leaving me no choice but to follow his lead. As he did, he spoke in a sing-song manner.

“There are creatures only visible at night, you know. Like owls, with their wings wide open, hunting with sharp talons, or the evening primrose, its bright yellow petals unfurling as it reveals its face.”

“Evening primrose isn’t in bloom right now, though.”

“Oh, right. Then how about fireflies?”

Fireflies were also creatures you’d usually only see in the summer. Aeon was intentionally lying to me. It was as if he wanted me to argue and tell him that what I had seen was something else.

‘It was a dream… It was just a dream.’

The image of Aeon approaching Tara in the garden came to mind, but that was something that had happened only in my imagination. Still, the way Karen had treated Tara and Aeon’s words about night walks filled me with unease.

“Could it be that the creatures you met weren’t flowers or insects at all?”

“Well, judging by what Selinia said, I think that’s the case. Especially the one I met last night.”

Last night. He specifically mentioned last night. My heart, which had almost stopped beating from anxiety, began pounding again.

‘No, don’t ask. This could be a trap.’

Even though Aeon could likely read my thoughts, he wouldn’t be able to read my dreams. If I mentioned Tara, it might play right into his hands.

“If Selinia made the sleep potion herself, you wouldn’t have to go on night walks anymore, would you?”

“Are you saying the potion is like some kind of homemade cake?”

I replied casually, but Aeon’s gaze was insistent, almost piercing.

“I’m secretly jealous that Selinia gave it to the maid first.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“You seem to be very fond of your maids. You even made them the potion yourself.”

Aeon mimicked the action of shaking a potion in his hand.

“It’s a fascinating potion. It would be very useful when you want to rest away from the eyes of others.”

Aeon had caught on. He knew about Tara’s escape and that I had helped her. He even knew about the potion that made one’s presence faint.

‘It’s over.’

“The maid probably looked like a bird in a cage, didn’t she? You must have wanted her to fly freely.”

A red glow began to appear in Aeon’s eyes. His smile remained, but it was a thin mask hiding a much more dangerous expression.

“But can a bird that leaves the cage survive in this harsh world?”

He shook his head, as if answering his own question.

“Before long, a stray cat will swoop in and catch it.”

Just as he finished speaking, dried flowers that had been displayed on the shelf fell to the ground. The red petals scattered across the floor like bloodstains. It was too perfect a timing to be a coincidence.

“So… Did she die?”

Only then did I manage to speak. My question, though lacking a subject, was clear enough for both of us to understand. But Aeon simply continued his dance-like movements, pretending not to know.

“Why are you worried? I was just talking about a bird.”

In the end, I had no choice but to speak Tara’s name.

“You met Tara last night, didn’t you?”

“Well, I’m not sure if the maid’s name was Tara, but she seemed to be in a hurry to leave.”

How? Why? Could it be that what I saw wasn’t a dream? Was I under some kind of mental magic?

My mind was in chaos.

“…So? What happened to Tara?”

“She’s here.”

“Here?”

Aeon raised his hand and pointed toward the Mage Tower.

“She’s here, in this tower.”

“Tara is here right now?”

“You don’t believe me?”

Of course, I couldn’t believe him. I hadn’t been able to find Tara, who should have been in the laundry room, and Karen said she didn’t know her.

“It’s truly sad that you don’t trust me, Selinia.”

Aeon shook his head and feigned a sorrowful look.

“Maybe you’ll change your mind if you visit the fourth floor.”

The fourth floor? Karen had mentioned the forbidden room. It was one of the rules of the Mage Tower that you couldn’t enter there.

“The forbidden room… Are you talking about that?”

“There’s more to the fourth floor than just the forbidden room. There’s a lovely exhibition room.”

I had heard that some noble estates had exhibition rooms, displaying artwork, sculptures, or hunting trophies. One duke had even turned an entire annex into an exhibition hall. But I couldn’t imagine that this murderer would have such ordinary things on display.

“I’d like to show you my exhibition room, Selinia.”

Aeon took my hand, as though escorting me. It seemed like a suggestion, but once again, I had no choice in the matter.

‘Taking me to an exhibition room at this time…’

I had a bad feeling about this. It felt like I was about to witness something truly horrific that had only been mentioned briefly in the novel.

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Exhibition Room

When the door to the exhibition room opened, a strange odor immediately hit me. I had grown accustomed to various smells due to alchemy, but this one instinctively repelled me. It smelled like strong disinfectants or perhaps some kind of animal scent.

“Be careful.”

The Mage Tower was generally dim, but this room was especially dark. It was so dark that I couldn’t even see what was in front of me, making it difficult to take a step forward.

‘Is it nocturnal?’

“I have excellent night vision, so don’t worry. But I’m not a nocturnal creature, so you’re safe.”

Had he read my thoughts? Aeon spoke as though he had.

“Good lighting is essential for appreciating fine exhibits. That’s why we’ve darkened the surroundings and put the spotlight on the pieces, don’t you think?”

Aeon’s voice sounded almost giddy, which only made me more uneasy.

“If you get closer to the exhibits, the glowstones will light up.”

“Very… precious items, I assume.”

“They are precious. But they aren’t exactly objects.”

Before I could process what he meant, the area in front of me suddenly brightened. The light wasn’t too bright, but after the previous darkness, I had to squint.

“What is this…?”

When my eyes adjusted, the first thing I saw was a large glass tank. But that was just the packaging that contained whatever was inside.

Inside, there was a creature with two arms, two legs, a body, and a head. Its height seemed about the same as mine. Unlike other animals, it had almost no fur, but long, soft brown hair grew from its head and descended halfway down its body.

I had no idea what it was. Truly, I couldn’t even guess. So, in the end, I had to ask Aeon in a dumbfounded voice.

“What is this?”

“It’s a Seliri.”